Ch07 GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES AND INCOME SUPPORT FOR THE POOR（课件）- 《财政金融英文版》同步教学（人民大学版）

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES AND INCOME SUPPORT FOR THE POOR C h a p t e r 7 Poverty in the United States Federal statistics classify the poor as those who live in households having annual income below the established poverty level, which varies with family size and if the head of household is over age 65. Poverty threshold – level of income below which a household is classified as poor in the U.S. Average poverty threshold for a family of four in the U.S. in 2008 was $21,834/year. Poverty in the United States Poverty in the United States Eligibility for Assistance Major welfare programs in the U.S. mainly assist those who cannot work (such as the aged, disabled, and families of needy children headed by women). Must satisfy the status test for public assistance, ensuring that they belong to a group eligible for poverty relief Must then pass a means test, establishing that they also have incomes, asset levels below minimally required amounts to be eligible for aid Entitlement programs require payments to all those meeting eligibility requirements TANF, SSI, and EITC Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) provides family support payments on a temporary and limited basis through grants to state governments, which in turn determine eligibility by income and conditions for receiving welfare payments. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federally funded and operated program that provides cash transfers to the aged, blind, and disabled who pass a means test. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a program for families who work and have children that provides assistance in the form of supplements to earnings that are transfers paid out when eligible recipients file federal income tax forms. In-Kind Benefits Noncash benefits that increase the quantities of certain goods and services that will be consumed by the recipients Medicaid provides basic health services to eligible recipients. The food stamp program provides coupons or electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards that ca